Cattle market is looking for a floor amid weak sales

Cattle prices in the Netherlands are moving further down. Elsewhere in Europe too, the market is under pressure. At the same time, there are signals that the downward movement is losing strength, although the meat market remains weak for now. The Vee&Logistiek quotation for the highest quality sausage cows is falling again by €0,10 to €3,70 per kilo. The quotations for the higher qualities are also declining by a similar amount. Since mid-March, 60 cents has therefore evaporated from slaughter cattle prices. The reduction does not come as a big surprise. Several large slaughterhouses in the Netherlands had already indicated earlier that they would lower their purchase prices. Stabilisation in Leeuwarden In the cattle market in Leeuwarden, quotations have not fallen further. Although relatively few cattle are traded there in absolute terms, the market is seen as an important indicator of sentiment. The Vee&Logistiek quotations are based on trade in the past week, while Leeuwarden gives an impression of trade in the current week. European market Prices have also not fallen further in Germany and Ireland, after the market there clearly lost ground in recent weeks. From Germany there are signals that supply is limited. In the Netherlands, supply is also not particularly ample, but slaughterhouses remain reluctant to slaughter cattle. Meat sales on the European market are weak and especially the prices of forequarter meat are under pressure, as are the trimmings. The weak demand is probably related to purchasing power, which is under pressure from the high energy and fuel prices. In times of historically high cattle and meat prices, inflationary pressure hits harder, insiders indicate. Important for turnover According to research by Rabobank, the relatively high prices for calves and slaughter cows are contributing ever more clearly to the operating result of dairy farmers. Almost 10% of turnover in 2025 was generated by the sale of calves and slaughter cows. That development appears to be structural, according to the bank.